Paid an agency fee? You can probably get it back

The rule

An agent who works for the landlord may not charge the tenant for that work. The same applies if the agent works for both sides. It doesn't matter what the fee is called: agency fee, administration costs, contract costs. The Dutch competition authority (ACM) has fined agents for exactly this.

The only exception: you hired an agent yourself to search for you, and the home didn't come from a landlord that agent works for.

How to tell if yours was illegal

• You found the home in a listing placed by the agent or landlord.
• The agent showed you the home and arranged the contract with the landlord.
• You paid a fee to the agent on top of rent and deposit.

If all three fit, the agent was working for the landlord, and the fee should not have been charged.

Getting it back

You can reclaim these fees for up to 5 years after paying them. Start with a letter or email to the agent asking for a refund, and send it to the landlord too if the contract made you pay. ConsuWijzer, the government's consumer site, has a sample letter.

This is separate from your rent: the Huurcommissie doesn't deal with agency fees. If you also think your rent is too high, that's a second, separate claim.

Sources: ACM, "ACM beboet drie huurbemiddelaars voor verboden bemiddelingskosten"; ConsuWijzer (consument.acm.nl), "Kosten bij het zoeken naar een huurwoning".